中文
Japan produced 7.52 million tonnes of crude steel in October, rising7.1% month on month (MoM) and 2.6% year on year (YoY), according to data released by the Japan Iron and Steel Federation.
The output of ordinary steel was 5.81 million tonnes, up 8.0% from the preceding month and 1.9% compared to a year ago; that of special steel was 1.72 million tonnes, up 4.0% month on month and 5.0% year on year.
In October, Japan's blast furnace steel production reached 5.47 million tonnes, increasing 6.4% MoM and 3.4% YoY; electric furnace steel output was 2.05 million tonnes, up 8.8% MoM and 0.5% YoY.
The production of hot-rolled coils in Japan was 3.09 million tonnes over the same month, rising 6.9% MoM and 1.4% YoY; H-beam steel production was 274,000 tonnes, declining 4.4% MoM and 13.3% YoY, data showed.
The production of pig iron was registered at 5.41 million tonnes in Oct, increasing 6.3% MoM and 3.8% YoY.
From January to October, Japan's cumulative crude steel production totaled 72.92 million tonnes, down 3.0% from the preceding year; the output of pig iron dropped 1.9% YoY to 52.94 million tonnes.
Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) had predicted in October that Japan's crude steel production would increase by 4.3% over October to December compared with the same period last year, supported by the recovery of automobile production and the absence of production slowdown caused by furnaces maintenance last year.
Japan's crude steel production will reach 22.33 million tonnes in October-December, up from 21.41 million tonnes a year earlier. It is also expected to grow by 1.7% from the previous quarter, the METI said.
However, the demand in steel products over October to December is expected to decline by 0.6% to 20.5 million tonnes compared with the same period last year, citing from an industry survey.
Domestic steel demand for automobiles production is likely to remain robust with improved semiconductor supply; but that of other manufacturing and construction sectors may remain weak, said the head of the metal industry department of the METI.
Although steel exports are expected to grow, the overall export trend will be subdued as Chinese demand weakens and steel prices in the rest of Asia remain low, the head said.
(Writing by yan.sun Editing by Harry Huo)
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